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Perinatal and Infant Health

Short- and long-term health risks continue to exist for mothers and their babies before, during, and after birth. Through our range of efforts, we promote and provide essential programs, and services to increase access to quality care and ultimately reduce illness and death.

What Goals Are We Trying to Accomplish?

Ensure that higher risk mothers and newborns deliver at hospitals that are able to provide proper care.

Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants are the most fragile newborns, but when born in a facility with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) their chances to survive and thrive improve greatly.

Increase the number of infants who are breastfed and those who are exclusively breastfed through six months.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends all infants exclusively breastfeed for about six months as human milk supports optimal growth and development. Mothers also benefit, as breastfeeding may lessen the likelihood of developing certain cancers and other health risks.

Increase the number of infants placed to sleep on their backs.

The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends use of the back-sleep position, on a separate firm sleep surface and without loose bedding.

Increase the number of children who receive a developmental screening.

Early identification of developmental disorders is critical to the well-being of children and their families.

Increase the number of children who are adequately insured.

Inadequately insured children are more likely to lack appropriate and timely care, be without a medical home, and be less likely to receive needed referrals and receive family-centered care.

Which Programs and Initiatives Help Us Accomplish Our Goals?

Safe Infant Sleep Systems Integration (SISSI): Sleep-related infant deaths are the leading cause of infant death after the first month of life and the third leading cause of infant death overall. Through effective programs and policies, caregivers are encouraged to follow safe infant sleep behaviors.

As part of SISSI, the National Action Partnership to Promote Safe Sleep exit disclaimer icon develops and implements the National Action Plan to Increase Safe Infant Sleep with partners to support breastfeeding among infant caregivers by activating systems, supports, and services to work together to make safe infant sleep a national standard.

Newborn Screening: Projects include developing a needs assessment for state newborn screening programs, genetics programs, and service systems, merging newborn screening and genetic services into existing state systems of care, evaluating new technologies for diagnosis and in screening programs, and the development of uniform guidelines. Read the Report to Congress: Newborn Screening Activities for more information (PDF - 262 KB).